Postgraduate Loan (UK Government)

Postgraduate Loan (UK Government)

This is a government loan you pay back later, not a grant. For a master's course starting from 1 August 2026 you can borrow up to about 15,300 EUR (£13,206). For a doctoral course such as a PhD you can borrow up to about 36,000 EUR (£31,122). The money is paid straight to you in three instalments each year (33%, 33% and 34%), and you decide how to split it between course fees and living costs. The amount does not depend on what you or your family earn. It runs for the length of your course: 1 to 2 years for a full-time master's, 3 to 8 years for a doctorate. You start repaying only once your income rises above a set threshold, and interest is charged from the first payment. The loan comes from Student Finance England.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are starting a full, standalone master's (at least 180 credits, for example MSc, MA, LLM, MBA) or a doctoral degree such as a PhD, DPhil or EngD.
• Where you study: You study in the UK and normally live in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own separate schemes.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Age: You are under 60 on the first day of your first academic year.
• Nationality and residence: You are a UK or Irish citizen, or you have settled or pre-settled status or indefinite leave to remain. You must have lived in the UK for at least 3 years before your course starts. Extra rules cover EU citizens, refugees and some other groups.
• No matching qualification: You do not already hold a master's (for the master's loan) or a doctorate (for the doctoral loan), or anything higher.
• No other funding clash: You are not getting Research Council funding, an NHS or social work bursary, or Student Finance England money for another course. You are also not behind on earlier student loan repayments.

How to apply

You apply once online through your Student Finance England account, or by post. This one application covers your whole course. Applications for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 years are open now. You must apply within 9 months of the first day of your course's final academic year.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a loan with fixed rules, not a competitive scholarship, so no panel weighs you against other applicants. If you meet the residence, age, course and no-clash conditions, you get the loan. Just remember it is money you repay with interest once you earn above the threshold, so treat it as a debt, not a gift.